Jan 25, 2017 - Actions held in Response to Trump’s Move on the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines

Seattle, WA – In response to the Trump administrations decision to take executive action to complete the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline and to construct the Keystone XL pipeline an emergency rally was held to show opposition to the decision.

“No matter who you are, you have that precious vision for the future that you have with your children, your grandchildren and several generations out. We all stand united to make sure no power establishment will take that from us.” ~Fawn Sharp President of the Quinualt Indian Nation

Photo by Lindsey Wasson/The Seattle Times

Several hundred people turned out for the last minute call to action where a rally was held followed by a direct action on Wells Fargo, a major finical backer of the Dakota Access pipeline. Protectors occupied the lobby of Wells Fargo.

Organizers also rallied attendees to support efforts to divest the City of Seattle from Wells Fargo. LRI’s Matt Remle worked with Councilmember Kshama Sawant to draft an ordinance that would end Seattle’s $3 billion relationship with Wells Fargo who currently manages the city’s employee payroll account. The ordinance will go before the Affordable Housing, Neighborhoods and Finance committee on February 1st.

The Dakota Access pipeline is currently halted pending an environmental impact statement by the Army Corps of Engineers. If built, the Dakota Access pipeline, which has drawn international support in opposition to being built due to the efforts of water protectors, would carry nearly 600,000 gallons of Bakken crude across four states on route to the Gulf Coast. The pipeline would cross 1861 Ft. Laramie treaty land of the Lakota and Dakota impacting sacred sites, burial sites and across the Missouri River impacting the water supply for millions.

The Keystone XL pipeline, which also drew international opposition and spurred the Cowboy and Indian Alliance, in a 1,000 mile long pipeline that would run from the Alberta Tar Sands to Nebraska on route to the Gulf Coast. It’s permit for construction was denied by President Obama in 2015 due to mass public outcry from Native peoples, farmers, ranchers, and environmentalist.